There are many questions that homeowners are faced with, but when it comes to their residential roof, one of the most common questions that homeowners must ask themselves is whether they should repair or replace their roof when it is damaged. There are advantages and disadvantages to both roof repairs and total roof replacements, so to help you make the best decision for your situation, here are a number of questions that you should make sure to answer before moving forward with either method.
Question #1: Are You Under Any Time Constraints?
How quickly does your roof repair need to be completed? For example, are you leaving on a business trip or vacation in the next two or three weeks? Do you have a leaky roof that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later? If something like this applies, then a roof leak repair is your only option. However, if you are not under any time constraints, then a new roof installation is an option.
Question #2: How Old Is Your Roof?
Consider the age of your residential roof. If you just moved into your home, you may not know how old your roof is, unless you asked before you bought it. However, you may be able to hire a professional roofing company to provide a roof inspection and give you an estimate of its age. If the roof is no more than halfway through its life cycle, then a roof repair is probably a suitable option. However, if it is close to the end of its life cycle and it still has a warranty on it, then a roof replacement makes more sense.
Question #3: How Much of the Roof Is in Need of Repair?
It is also important to take a close look at how much of the roof is in need of repair. If it is a small area or two, then you may be able to save money by purchasing and installing roof shingles yourself. However, if the roof repair is 30% or more of your roof, a roof replacement should be strongly considered. It would take just as much work — if not more — to repair the roof as it would to replace it.
Question #4: How Much Extra Would It Cost to Replace the Whole Roof?
Before you decide to repair or replace your roof, you need to take a look at how much both methods will cost you. The actual roof replacement cost will depend on how much of your roof needs to be fixed. So, while a contractor may provide a roofing estimate of “X” to fix it, it very well could only be 25-35% more to replace the entire roof. Therefore, a new roof would offer the greatest value, as the new roof cost will be comparable to the roof repairs. Contacting a local roofing company for a roof inspection is certainly recommended in this scenario.
Question #5: How Many Layers of Shingles Does Your Roof Currently Have?
Some people don’t realize it, but it is possible to have more than one layer of shingles on your roof. However, your local building codes will restrict the number of layers you can have one your roof. Generally speaking, you can’t have more than two layers of shingles at any one time on your home. Financially speaking, it will be more expensive to remove the old shingles and replace them with new ones than it would be to simply add a new layer of roof shingles over the existing layer.
Question #6: Is There Any Moisture Damage to the Roof Deck?
It is important that the roof underlayment and decking is inspected for any signs of moisture damage before deciding on a roof repair or replacement. If there are signs of significant moisture damage in your roof, then it won’t do any good to simply shingle over them. Instead, your best option is likely a roof replacement.
The aforementioned questions will help you determine whether you should repair or replace your roof. If you are still uncertain, or you would like to request a free roofing quote, contact our professional roofers at Bullard Roofing.
